WHEREAS, the people of the United States of America since the days of George Washington have rallied to the defense of this nation and its banner--the Stars and Stripes; and

WHEREAS, tradition has it that the early Colonial flag designed by Betsy Ross was first used in land battle at Cooch's Bridge, New Castle County, Delaware; and

WHEREAS, hundreds of Delaware's sons through succeeding generations have followed this emblem of our unity, strength and desire to remain a free people, even though many perished in the effort to keep it aloft; and

WHEREAS, it is important today for all of us to not only display our loyalty to our nation and flag, but to express the unity of purpose with which we follow all our endeavors; and

WHEREAS, National Flag Week will be observed this year from June 8 through the anniversary date--June 14--of the official adoption of the Stars and Stripes by the Continental Congress in 1777:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, J. Caleb Boggs, Governor of the State of Delaware, do hereby declare that the week of June 8 to 14, 1953, be observed as

NATIONAL FLAG WEEK IN DELAWARE

I urge that our national emblem fly daily during this week from all public buildings, industrial and commercial buildings and that it be displayed at the homes of our citizens. This we should do as an expression of our sincere faith in and love for the form of government enjoyed by this nation during the past 177 years.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, J. Caleb Boggs, Governor of the State of Delaware, have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the said State to be hereunto affixed, at Dover, this Second day of June in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Fifty-three and of the Independence of the United States the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh.